Alan Rachins Dies: ‘LA Law’ And ‘Dharma & Greg’ Actor Was 82

Glenn Garner

2 November 2024 at 4:47 pm·1-min read

Alan Rachins, the actor known for his roles on L.A. Law and Dharma & Greg, has died. He was 82.

The Golden Globe and Emmy nominee died early Saturday morning after experiencing heart failure in his sleep at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, his wife Joanna Frank told The Hollywood Reporter.

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In addition to his performance as Douglas Brackman on the NBC series L.A. Law, which ran from 1986 to 1994 and earned him Golden Globe and Emmy nominations, Rachins was known for playing Dharma’s (Jenna Elfman) hippy father Larry on the ABC sitcom Dharma & Greg, which ran for five seasons from 1997 to 2002.

Rachins also appeared in such films as Thunder Run (1986), North (1994) and Showgirls (1995), as well as shows like The Golden Girls, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Stargate SG-1 and Rizzoli & Isles.

Born Oct. 3, 1942 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Rachins moved to New York to study acting, where he was among the original Broadway casts of After the Rain and Hadrian the Seventh. He was also a writing/directing fellow at the American Film Institute.

L.A. LAW, from left, Alan Rachins, Blair Underwood, 1986-94. TM & Copyright ©20th Television. All rights reserved / courtesy Everett Collection

Rachins wrote episodes of Hill Street Blues, Hart to Hart and The Fall Guy, and he directed a 1980 episode of the CBS procedural Paris, starring James Earl Jones.

Along with his wife, Rachins launched Allofit Productions to adapt books and original screenplays into feature and television projects.

Rachins is survived by wife Joanna Frank and their son Robert.

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